Stuffed Animal - Part 2

Last week, I started to show you the basic steps of making a stuffed animal. We only got to the cutting and pinning, so today I'll show you how to sew it. To see the beginning steps, click here.

So, when you've cut out the LIMBS ONLY, laying in the order of batting, front piece, and back piece, pinned with the right sides together, sew around the edges, but DO NOT SEW THE SIDE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE BODY!!!! Don't forget to backstitch. When you've sewn around all but the one side, stop and backstitch again, then cut the thread to release it from the machine. Now we will flip it inside out, (which I guess will be right side out) and add more stuffing if necessary. I didn't, I only used the batting, but if you are making an animal that stands on its legs like a dog or something (one that doesn't have fins) then feel free to add more stuffing.

Tips for Aspiring Crafters: batting and stuffing are two different things. Stuffing is just like free roaming stuffing that would typically be in a stuffed animal. You just pull it apart to the amount you need. Batting is like stuffing in the way it feels, but it is like fabric in the way it comes in a big rectangle and you must cut the shape you want. Be sure to read all labels before making any purchases.

Do the previous steps for all of the limbs such as legs, arms, tails, fins/flippers, etc. and maybe even ears. If the head is not connected, I would also treat the head as a limb, by doing the same steps. Now gather the batting, front, and back fabrics for the body like we did before, but only pin them. So not sew. Now lay the limbs around the body in the spots where you would like them. This part will be easier if you are making fins, because you can just sew it in flat, instead of having to go around the perimeter of each limb, so that it's not just flat over the seam, then pops back out, although you can make it like that if you want.
To sew on fins, or with the flatness as I described above, keep the limb flipped out with the right fabric on the outside, then just open a pinned section on the body where you want it to go, and put it in between the good sides of the fabric, with the opening on the limb on same place as the edges of the fabric. Re pin and sew all of the flat limbs on like that.

To sew on more natural fuller limbs, (such as a head, or anything similar) like I did with the tail, lift up the section between the two good side fabrics, and put the limb inside there, with the opening in line with the hole where you put in in through. Make sure it's not upsidedown or anything. Pin around it, then sew, but not straight across, sew around the hole. This might be hard to sew, so it might be easier to hand stitch these limbs on.

Once you've attached all of your limbs,  you should only have one real opening. Use that opening to flip it right side out. My easiest opening was the mouth because you could hide the stitching with the teeth, etc. because the final opening you must hand stitch. Stuff all of your stuffing inside the body now, then pin it closed. Cut some thread like double the length of your opening, (but always cut extra because when you're almost finished and have to start all over because you ran out, you'll be annoyed). I used white thread for my whole project, because half of it is white, but I recommend using whatever color matches your fabric. When you cut the thread, make a knot on one end by wrapping it around two fingers a few times, then sort of 'rub' it off and pull. Now thread it through the needle, and leave the knotted end slightly longer than the other. This part is sort of confusing, but we are hand sewing sort of inside out, so the seams won't be as easily seen. You'll start off by holding the needle inside of the opening, then poking out one side. Then go into the other fabric. You'll need to pull it tight at the end and sort of along the way, but it should be fine. Here are some photos to help you understand how to sew it closed.

 

Now is the fun part! Add the accessories. For my project it has to look realistic, so I made teeth out of pipe cleaners, and eyes out of pipe cleaners, but you can be creative! I probably would've made a bow or hat or something if it's a teddy bear for a little baby. I really want you to recreate this, because it was so fun to make! Good luck!

Stuffed Animal - Part 1

Today, I am going to show you the beginning steps to sewing your own stuffed animal. This project isn't very long, (I'm almost done, and started today) but it is an ambitious project, so if you don't have much sewing experience, please read these instructions very carefully. I decided to make this for my science project, on the extinct dinosaur, called a Liopleurodon. Most people think I made a shark though, so call it what you want.

Before you begin, you'll need fabric. I got mine from Walmart, but you can also get it from Joann's, or Hobby Lobby. The total amount I used was three packages of 18 by 21 inches (they didn't have a large section of fabric at my Walmart, so I experimented with using pre-cut fabric, and it worked well). Using most of that fabric, my stuffed animal is 30 inches long, but don't forget you'll need some for the feet, etc.. You'll also need fabric scissors, five feet of batting (yes, I used all of it), sewing pins, pencil, sewing machine, and thread.

To start. Fold your fabric in half, inside out, (if you're using two pieces like me, just put one on top of the other. Also if you want one side to be a different color than the other, then put one color on the bottom, and a different color on top). Now trace out your pieces with a pencil on the wrong side of the fabric, so it doesn't show up. My animal is a pretty basic animal, but just make sure you cut out an oval like shape for the body, more oval like shapes for the limbs, and on mine the head and body are connected, but if they're not, cut out a circle for the head. ( if you can form it more to look like your certain animal, go ahead. Also, try to envision it in your head how they will piece together, so that everything is proportional, etc.. One more note, everything needs two pieces for it: a front and a back, so that is why you must double up the fabric.) Once you like the shapes, cut them out with fabric scissors, and pin the front and back pieces together, to keep them in place. 

This part is what took me the longest, because I was so cautious on what to cut, but I like how it turned out. I bought one extra package of material, just in case I messed up, but we didn't end up needing it. 

After that, I lined the pieces up with the batting and cut out two pieces of batting for each part, so it stays fluffy, but after I sewed certain parts I stuffed more stuffing in the body/head and tail. Pin the batting pieces to the fabric pieces. 

The next part gets a little tricky, so you'll have to wait until next week to learn how to finish it, but I'll post a picture on my social media accounts of the finish product when it's completed. Stay tuned! 

Floral Wreath

Hey guys! Today, we are making a Spring Wreath, full of colorful leaves and flowers!

It only cost me like $6 to make! 

Tips for Aspiring Crafters: The Dollar Tree is a great store to get tons of random crafting, and regular stuff for only a dollar each! I got most all my supplies from there.

You will need fake flowers from Dollar Tree. I got 5 different colors/kinds so my wreath would have diversity, but I have a ton of flowers left over, too. You will also need floral/craft wire and wire cutters (if you don't have wire cutters, just bend it back and forth a lot), a foam wreath from Dollar Tree, optional burlap ribbon from Dollar Tree, hot glue sticks (I went through about 2) and a hot glue gun.

Tips for Aspiring Crafters: Invest in a good, hot, hot glue gun,  because most likely, you'll find a way to use it, no matter what project you make. Also, don't get a cheap one that doesn't work, because if it doesn't heat up to a hot enough temperature, the flowers will fall off, plus you'll get blisters from constantly pushing the lever to make glue come out. 

To start, plug in your hot glue gun, and let it heat up while we prepare. The flowers pop off the stem really easily just with a pull, and if you want leaves, pop off the flowers, and there light be a little branch connecting the flowers to the stem that will pop off, then the leaves can just slide off with a tug. Arrange the flowers the way you'd like them, and push them into the styrofoam to make a hole. Now, put hot glue onto the bottom of the flower, and put some into the hole and stick the flower in. Do that for your entire wreath.

If you'd like to add a bow, feel free to do so now. I made my bow by folding the ends of the ribbon behind, then creasing the middle horizontally, and folding the edges back a little. Now just cut another piece of ribbon and glue it down over the center, then glue the bow to the wreath.

Now to add the wire to hang it on, fold your wire in the center, and fold it into a wide U shape on the ends. Stick the ends into the styrofoam, and because of the 'hook like' shape, it won't come out as easily. I added more glue around to keep it in place.

That's all guys! You can hang it on a wreath hook, or if it's small enough, you may even hang it on a pushpin. Leave me a comment if you want more Tips for Aspiring Crafters!

Decorative Light Switch

Hello! Today I will show you how I decorated my light switch to make it pretty and tie in all of the colors in my bedroom. This is very inexpensive, and it can add a little fun to light switches, or electrical outlets, etc.. 

All you will need is a light switch cover, which I think is called a Switch Plate, or Wall Plate. You can get them from Home Depot for less than 30 cents, or you'll most likely have one you can use around your light switch now. You will also need acrylic paints and foam brushes, which you can get from your local craft store, such as Joann's and Hobby Lobby, painters tape (I used clear scotch tape and I think it worked fine...), optional glitter and Mod Podge, and a screw driver. To do this project, it will be easiest to unscrew and remove the switch plate, paint it, then put it back on. I also reccommend setting up some paper towels under your painting sight, along with a paper plate for the paint, and a plastic cup filled with water to rinse the brushes in.

To start, I sketched out some different designs I could do. Keep in mind, it will be difficult to go into great detail on such a little space. I decided to just do vertical stripes. I put the tape down across the middle of the switch cover to make sure I didn't get any paint in the wrong spot, and to ensure a straight line when I am finished. Now start to paint. I started just doing vertical strokes but the paint would like rub off, so I would use the foam brush to dab on the paint. Then, I let it dry for a FULL HOUR or else it would chip off again. After that, I went back over it with the lightest possible strokes of all time, just to get rid of the odd textures. Let that dry for another hour (don't skimp) then do one more coat. Then, you must wait till it is completely dry and peel off the tape, and do the same steps for painting the last section. I do recommend specifically PAINTERS tape for the taping off the last section so that the tape doesn't take off the paint from our previously completed sections. 

If you choose to use glitter like me, you will Mod Podge the section, then shake the glitter on, then put another layer of mod Podge to seal it in. I go through greater detail on this process in my Glitter Easter Eggs Post. After that. I removed the painters tape and sprayed an Acrylic Sealer Spray finish it and keep it from getting messed up. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle.

That's all for today! This is a careful project because you have to try so very hard not to take off the paint with the tape. Good luck!